Report: Health and intel officials working to determine which hostages to prioritize in potential deal

Two Israeli committees are reportedly gathering information on the well-being of the remaining living hostages in order to determine which ones should be prioritized in the phased ceasefire deal currently under discussion.

While all 20 of the hostages still believed to be alive are considered “humanitarian,” a Health Ministry committee and an IDF Military Intelligence committee will recommend to the hostage negotiating team who should be released first, Channel 12 says.

The deal under discussion will see the release of eight living hostages on the first day, two living hostages freed on the 50th day and the remaining 10 hostages freed when an agreement is reached on the terms of the permanent ceasefire, which could take place by the 60th day of the truce.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet whether the hostage negotiating team will be able to use the list supplied to it by the professional committees. In the last hostage deal, an Israeli list was submitted to Hamas ahead of time.